There are indications that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is set to make real its threat to resume hostilities, as the militant group issued a statement yesterday, threatening to begin to blow up fuel-laden tankers.
The group also demanded the resignation of Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the immediate release of Henry Okah who is serving a jail term in South Africa,
and the release of Okah’s brother, Charles. But top police sources who preferred anonymity yesterday sneered at MEND’s latest threat saying there was no need to keep glorifying such threats. A statement purportedly issued yesterday on behalf of MEND suggested that it had resumed hostility, code-naming it ‘Hurricane Exodus’, which it said began yesterday morning in the Federal Capital Territory.
The statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, warned Nigerians to steer clear of vehicles laden with petroleum products, while also demanding for the removal of the Petroleum Minister, the release of its leaders, Henry Okah and his brother, Charles.
The group also made other demands. The statement read: ‘Hurricane Exodus’ resumed at about 00:05Hrs on Saturday, June 15, 2013, when field operatives from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), stealthily attached portable military limpet explosives magnetically to two articulated tanker vehicles laden with petrol in a queue outside the NNPC depot in Abaji, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. “The devices were timed to detonate simultaneously several seconds later.
The outcome was predictable. This segment of Exodus codenamed ‘Operation Touch and Go’ is targeted at the soft underbelly (downstream sector) of the oil industry in Nigeria.
“From today, every tanker vehicle we find distributing petroleum products including propane gas has become a legitimate target in our war against injustice, corruption, despotism and oppression. Drivers of tanker vehicles continue to drive them at their own risk.
“The public are hereby advised to maintain a safe distance from such vehicles as they can explode anytime and anywhere. Harassment on these tanker vehicles would be sustained until the following demands are met:
• Henry Okah, his brother Charles and other innocent persons set up as scapegoats and held over the October 01, 2010 twin car bombings in Abuja be released unconditionally.
• That an unreserved apology be tendered by the Nigerian government to MEND for presenting a forged email letter threatening the South African government purported to have originated from us and used as evidence in the sham trial and conviction of Henry Okah.
• That a separate independent body outside Nigeria investigates the forged letter so as to ascertain its authenticity and make their findings public.
• That since our struggle has never been about a Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, nor about being beneficiaries of dubious pipeline protection contracts and other forms of bribery, a conference to address the injustice, underdevelopment, environmental degradation and outstanding root issues confronting the Niger Delta region must be fixed to hold within three (3) months.
• That the corrupt and inept…resigns as Minister of Petroleum. But indications emerged last night that security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory might have scaled up efforts to forestall a likelihood of bomb attack on the territory following the MEND threat. However, multiple security sources in Abuja recalled earlier statements purportedly made by the group in which it threatened renewed attacks on critical national assets.
“MEND has this year alone made over 10 of such threats. I wonder why the media continues to glorify them by giving them such prominence. However, we are always on the alert and there is no cause for alarm”, said an operative of the Department of State Service (DSS) who did not want his name in print. Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, could not be immediately reached for media enquiries.
